Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-22
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From LAs Chicago Meas
Gus Mortimer, the manager Of Louis
James, Iatsiy fFem Hew Orleans, says
Southern people are inteaseIy disgusted
with The recent utteranoas of Jea Davis.
BsaHFsgaFd was and 10 still o great ia
voEite With the SouiherueFs, ard they
resent any slight upon him. Mortimer.
who IVES 10 the confederate army and
In BeauregArd's commaud, says that be
vas the most popular rebel ofIiSeE,
plinaFian. DuriDg the hFst winter OF
the war BeauFegAfd commanded the
armies Of Virginia, aud the weather vas
intensely cold. The men we're volan-
teeFa. Of course, and entirely unused 90
the hardahipa Of war, and they fell sick
IN great numbers, and, What was worse,
became dull and dispirited. PEoiitina
By the example Of The hrst Hapoleon,
BeauFegard bit upon the plan Of estab
liahipg a theater In ths camp for the
amusement OF the troopa. Mortimer
was selected 20 organize the company
and the york Of erecting the shsateF
was begun. The man who was entrust-
ed With the funds skipped south and de-
serted With the money, and the move-
nasnta OF the federal army broke up all
she plans. Daring the var, Mortimer
says, the theatsra In the South coined
money. The horrors Of the siege we're
mitigated aud sometimes added TO BY
dramatic performances, and when an
army entered q town the first thing IL
did Was 10 0rgaoizs q company aud play
In the theateF. Some Of the armies
contained enough soldier actors for q
very fair sized oompany, and IN some
Gases plays were Fehearssd ahead, bat
oftener still the company was non mill
tary and belonged 20 she theater or
travelled about seeking to play In some
town ocoapied by troops. The prices
charged we're 30 eents foF pFivates aud
u for officers, and the houses we're nui
veTsally packed. The audiences we're
enthusiastio aud generally In the very
best OF humor, so much So a. 10 make Il
rather difficult TO play. Mortimer was
paroled, and played OF and on for q
year or two With oil sorts Of picked up
companies-h professional, half anna
teuI and all sorts Of ssationalism and
politics. Once &c OOFiuth he played
Richard ILL.," in a linen buster; bat
she audience didn't seem to mind the
discrepancy q bit, and insisted on his
coming forward In the tent scene and
singing the"StaF Spangled Bsnner" and
"ln she Prison Cell | Sit" On the
night OF the second days battle Of the
Wilderness Mortimer was on picket
duty. he had not eaten q moFssl for
over thirty-Aix hours, and he was nearly
dead with hunger, and very faint, hav-
Inc bat recently come from the hospital.
IL had been the won't Of the soldiers 10
supply the place Of food with eopious
ohews OF plug tobacco, and MoFtimer's
pockets we're full OF the weed, but the
doctor had forbidden him using ID. He
vas standing BY a tree, faint and
despairinR, and in the agony Of his stu
alton be exclaimed aloud:
I'D give the biggest plug Of tobacco
IN toe world for piece Of bard tack
I'm take you at your word, Johnny
Heb" exclaimed hearty voice, and
before Mortimer could bring his gun 90
Dis shoulder a form sprang Out Of the
dusk and stAlwart Eonave stood before
him.
I've been watching you for some
time" continued she northern man,
and thought you saw ms and was get
unR ready to pot me till / heard you
speak" The xouave had unslung his
knaPsack and displayed before the fam
iahed rebel what seemed 10 him feast. |
And now, yO0ng fellow" be said, 'if |
yooli give me plug Of tobacco you
can have al the hard tack your laws |
eau crack. Fork over" such exchanges |
we're common, ard Mortimer clulched |
sue food aHd passed over plug Of |
virginia tobacco, which VS. ~ eagerly |
received BY the Eauave. They talked .
moment or two, and tten. realizing
tneir danger, prepared 20 part. Moti
mer incidentally told bis companion his
name and calling. The other was sur
rfised snd said be Vas an actor, too.
"fou ART 7" asked Mortimer, de.irht-
ed. "fou are q brick when the var
9 over I'll come north and ioin You.
What's yous name. ?"
Louis james" said the iuava. As
be reslunR his knapsaek, picked up his
gun and disappeared IN the woods.